Cop feared kidnapper would kill teen

A senior police officer has given emotional evidence of preparing the family of slain teenager Christie Marceau for the possibility her killer might visit their home while on bail.

Marceau, 18, was fatally stabbed in her family home on the North Shore in 2011 by Akshay Chand.

‘‘Even though [Chand] was on curfew he could probably still get there before the police,’’ Detective Aaron Iremonger told an inquest into her death yesterday. ‘‘I advised [Christie’s mother] to be vigilant, and to keep the door locked and make the rest of the house secure.’’

Iremonger was the officer in charge of the initial kidnapping case against Chand, who threatened Marceau at knifepoint in 2011. Months later Chand was bailed less than 1km from Marceau’s home, and he returned to the house to kill her. Marceau died in her mother’s arms. Iremonger was visibly distressed and took some time to compose himself as he read his brief of evidence. He said that after discovering Chand had been granted bail, by Judge David Mcnaughton in the North Shore District Court, he phoned Marceau’s mother Tracey to apologise. ’’I apologised to her for the unsatisfactory bail conditions and said that we as police did everything we could to oppose Chand’s bail.’’

Marceau’s parents, who were in the public gallery of the court, cried softly as Iremonger read his evidence.

While on annual leave two weeks later Iremonger discovered Chand had murdered Marceau.

The police prosecutor who strongly opposed Chand’s bail said he was concerned to hear Chand had reapplied for bail after an earlier attempt failed.

Adam Pell said he vigorously opposed Chand’s release from custody after hearing Chand’s admissions to police that he wanted revenge against Marceau, who he felt had wronged him.

Chand applied for bail in September 2011, which was declined, but was successful in a subsequent application in October 2011. Pell told the inquest that at Chand’s first application for bail he marked on his sheet that bail was declined by Judge Barbara Morris, and was concerned weeks later when Chand’s lawyer indicated another bail application would be made.

Pell told coroner Katharine Greig that the prospect of Chand gaining bail ‘‘greatly concerned’’ him and he prepared written submissions for Judge Mcnaughton, including a map illustrating how close the two addressess were, but said that minutes after handing the package to a court taker, it was returned to him.

Chand was later found not guilty of Marceau’s murder by reason of insanity. He is a patient at the Mason Clinic being treated for schizophrenia.